A law office study program is an alternative legal education pathway that enables individuals to become lawyers by apprenticing under the supervision of practicing attorneys or judges, instead of attending traditional law school. These programs, sometimes called "reading the law," combine guided study with practical, real-world legal experience. Key points about law office study programs:
- Typically involve a multi-year apprenticeship (often around four years) in a law office or judge’s chambers.
- The apprentice studies a structured curriculum of legal texts and concepts while working under direct supervision.
- The supervising attorney or judge provides regular instruction, assigns study materials, and gives periodic written examinations.
- Apprentices must pass the state bar examination to become licensed lawyers.
- These programs avoid law school tuition costs and provide hands-on experience but do not result in a Juris Doctor degree.
- They are allowed in a limited number of states, including California, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, New York (limited), and Wyoming (for residents).
For example, in California's Law Office Study Program (LOSP), the requirements include:
- Four years of study under a licensed attorney or judge.
- At least 18 hours of study per week for 24 to 26 weeks per six-month period.
- Supervision and examination by the mentor attorney or judge.
- Passing the First-Year Law Students' Examination ("Baby Bar") after the first year and then the California Bar Exam after completion.
This program is suitable for motivated individuals who want an alternative to law school and are prepared for extensive self-directed legal study along with practical experience. However, it has drawbacks like limited career mobility and lower recognition outside states allowing this route. In brief, a law office study program is a structured apprenticeship-based path to becoming a lawyer without attending law school, focused on practical mentorship and self- study combined with passing the bar exam.
